Use Of Antagonistic Bacteria From Spent Mushroom Compost For Controlling Damping-off Cause By Fusarium Solani In Tomato

The objective of this study was to test antagonistic bacteria for their ability to control Fusarium solani damping-off disease of tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum L.). Antagonistic bacteria were isolated from spent mushroom compost (SMC) of Pleurotus spp. for the pathogenic fungi, Fusarium solani. Thirteen species were tested for the ability to inhibit Fusarium solani by dual culture on PDA plates. Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis showed high inhibition of mycelium of Fusarium solani obtained 53.33% until 35 days and then were selected to be further tested in green house conditions. Spore suspension of Fusarium solani (108 spore/ml) were mixed with soil while tomato seeds were soaked in a cell suspension of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis (109 cfu/ml) for 30 min before planting. The experiment used Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The percentages of seed germination and incidence of damping-off compared across 4 treatments; Fusarium solani + Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis, Fusarium solani + carbendazim (fungicide), Fusarium solani (disease control) and healthy plant control. The results showed that efficacy was not significantly different. Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis effectively controlled the damping-off on tomato by obtained 75% of germination. Whereas, use of Fusarium solani + carbendazim and healthy plant control were obtained 90% and 95%, respectively